The Goal: Raise $15,000 which will enable sixty participants to enroll in a program dedicated to support youth, parents and caregivers.

Who:  A collaborative effort between Barrie Families Unite, Barrie Housing and R & R Program Facilitators.

Why: Barrie has been identified as a community that has growing concerns with youth getting involved in gang-related activities.

Did you know…
1. People who experience mental health challenges are more vulnerable to getting involved in gang-related activities as a means of coping with their difficulties.
2. Gang involvement can exacerbate preexisting mental health issues.
3. Youth living in poverty are susceptible to gang-related behaviour due to various factors such as a lack of opportunities, exposure to violence, and social exclusion.

Research has shown that when young people feel a sense of belonging to a community, school or group, they are less likely to get involved in gang-related or violent activities. The aim of this joint campaign is to strengthen the feeling of
community and belonging for young people and their caregivers.

Partners involved and program outline
Barrie Families Unite is dedicated to ensuring everyone in the Barrie community has dignified access to essential needs and believes in empowering individuals and families to thrive regardless of their circumstances. They are a registered non-profit organization and currently has a successful fulfillment program focusing on proving food, clothing and household essentials. They are excited to be part of this initiative and will be inviting youth and families within their network to participate in the spring R & R Program. They will also be providing all participants in the program with additional food, clothing, and household essentials as a way to ensure their basic food and physical health needs are
taken care of.

Barrie Housing is a non-profit organization that provides housing for families with low to modest incomes. They have over 3000 tenants in Barrie, many of whom face challenges in accessing resources to pursue their education and life goals. To address this issue, Barrie Housing is a partner in this initiative and will be offering R & R Programs to the youth and caregivers in the Barrie Housing community.

The R & R Program facilitation team, consisting of three changemakers, has been making a positive impact on youth and their families residing in Simcoe County for decades.
Amber McAuley - Certified Restorative Justice Facilitator, CYW
Sandy Inkster - CMT-P, Labyrinth Facilitator, Parenting Educator
Diane Aiken - Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, R.P., M.Ed.

This initiative in support of youth mental health is also being cheered on by non-profits outside of Simcoe County. Freedom is a Must Foundation and Muskoka Family Focus are offering their expertise for program development as it relates to working with marginalized youth and parenting education.

R & R Programs are about restoring relationships and community by exploring themes such as respect, responsibility, repair, and reintegration. These programs offer the necessary tools to help establish healthy relationships with oneself and others while also focusing on repairing relationships that have been harmed.

This collaborative project is a multi-level approach to supporting youth, parents and caregivers. Those involved in this project will have access to:

How to participate:

1. Join the mullet head team and raise pledges from friends and family! Contact Amber to sign-up today!

2. Make a donation to help us reach our goal of sponsoring sixty participants.

Contact us for more information: Amber @ 705-818-3737 or email mulletsforsimcoecounty@gmail.com.

#12